Whenever a new venue is used I'm always a tad apprehensive - What is it like? Will it go smoothly? Will the players have a good experience? The Manor Hotel in Meriden came out trumps. Great hotel, great playing room, very attentive, helpful, and friendly staff. Overall an 8/10. They might have got 10/10 if the dining arrangements had been better ... which I'm hoping it will be for when we return next April.

The weekend go off to a cracking start for the Friday Warm-up Finals. A few of the Top 16 Qualifiers didn't turn out which meant players lower than 16th were able to enter (as I've said before, it's a good idea to attend just in case others fail to). In the semi-final I got the better of my regular doubles partner, Richard Biddle (last year's winner); and Brian Lever saw off Crisp in Duke. Both Brian and I were looking to be the first to win it twice .... and Brian prevailed. I'll have another go next year. See Here for details

Brian Lever - Warm-up Winner

Richard Biddle - BBT Winner (and something else

Early Saturday morning the BBT Final got under way (again, players lower than 8th were in the draw) culminating in a final match between Richard Biddle and Anna Price late Sunday afternoon. Richard won this in 2014 and was Runner-up last year; and Anna was Runner-up in 2015. Richard was victorious and is the first player to win it twice and Anna now shares Runner-up twice with Brian Lever. (See HERE for details).

The Saturday Swiss left us with one on 5/5, Darren O'Shaughnessy (who was the only player left in the Winner-Takes-All); three on 4/5; and six on 3/5 from which we needed four. A 2pt play off gave us three and a 1pt Round Robin failed to provide a fourth so a rollout came into force and Brian Lever joined the seven others in the Main.

In the Saturday night Doubles Mick's Dick was finished off by Posh & Price; and the Thompson Twins fell foul of Cops & Robbers. In the Final Cops & Robbers handcuffed Posh & Price and took all the prize money off them.

In the Main on Sunday morning the draw was: Simon Morecroft vs Steve Allott, Darren O'Shaughnessy vs Tiberiu Bostan, Paul Barwick vs Chris March and Brian Lever vs Brian Metcalf. In each draw the first named came through. Simon then lost to Darren and Paul to Brian. In the Final it went back a forth a bit and near the end it looked as if it could go either way but Brian came out on top to take the title; and in doing so ensured we have a WTA Rollover for Brighton!

Main: Brian (L) and Darren

Time constraints on getting the Bibafax out mean I am not able to report on the match progress; however, a full report and analysis will appear in the February edition of Bibafax.

Meanwhile, in the Consolation, playing from Round 1 on the Non-Prog side, Richard Biddle gets into the semi-final to face new-comer, Chris Palmer - and encounter where tournament experience prevailed and Richard went into the Final. From the Prog side Tiberiu faced Paul Barwick in their semi-final with Tiberiu getting the edge. In the Final it swayed back and forth but Rich rad kept his head and the came out on top.

Consolation: Richard & Tiberiu

Last Chance: Simon & Crispin

The Last Chance eventually came down to four players,
Crispin Duke vs Chris Humphries and Simon Morecroft vs Chris March; fixtures from which Crispin and Simon came out on top - and then Simon topped Crispin the come out the winner.

Finally. It was a good weekend and it all went along quite smoothly. It was a pity so few turned out; especially when the Biba rate is such a bargain compared to the usual accommodation rates. Take a look on Booking.Com and compare our dinner, b&b rate and see what just a room with or without breakfast can cost you. See you in April? Book early!